Seattle Peach

We've Moved!!

2011-04-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

From here on out you can find all Seattle Peach updates at the new privately hosted site SeattlePeach.com

Thanks for visiting!!

Seattle Peach 100: Waylon "WD4D" Dungan

2011-03-31T16:00:00.000-07:00

For our very first edition of the Seattle Peach 100, we have DJ and producer, Waylon “WD4D” Dungan. I first met Waylon in the Spring of 2009 when my girl Dalisha Phillips was looking for a DJ her 25th birthday party at Lo Fi. She and I went to Grey Gallery, where Waylon was a resident DJ, to scope him out one night. It really was a moment in Peach history. Waylon and Dalisha booed up after that, and the group of girls we call the OG Peaches are pretty much all tied together through that union.

WD4D is a master on the decks, elegantly bobbing and weaving between genres, making up new concoctions like “post-hyphy-romanticrunk” along the way. I have heard WD4D do it all, from underground hip hop to glitched out experimental back to grooving funk and soul, and play to his audience with proficient expertise. It’s no wonder that cats like THEESatisfaction, Khingz, Gabriel Teodros and JusMoni have turned to his skills when they needed someone to back them up. He’s been making moves in this town for a minute, dropping his first official album back in 2005, and has rightfully earned the titled bestowed on him by the Stranger as “The Feel-Good DJ of the Decade”. He is not only one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met in my life (like, seriously), and totally down for the Peaches, but he works real hard to give back to the community whenever he has the chance.

For more information about WD4D, check out his Seattle Peach 100 Factsheet below:

New Column! Seattle Peach 100

2011-03-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach is pioneering a brand new column! And it's our biggest undertaking yet!

Last fall I visited photographer Chase Jarvis' Seattle 100 show for City Arts Festival where he released his book by the same name. Afterward I felt so connected to my community and so lucky to be surrounded by all of these people who are putting their time, energy and talents toward the common goal of enriching our city in whatever way that they can. I was also super inspired by Jarvis' call to action/call for art (call for art action?), encouraging others to look around themselves and create their own portrait of Seattle. I grew more and more excited as City Arts Magazine and photographer Kyle Johnson debuted their respective spins on the idea. Then I decided, everyone else is doing it, so why can't we?

Introducing the Seattle Peach 100! I will be mobbing around the city for as long as it takes for me link up with at least 100 people in the 206 who have caught my attention for one reason or another. The single common thing they will all share is that each and every one of these individuals inspire and motivate me. To showcase each addition to the Seattle Peach 100, we will feature brief profiles, a few snap shots and a handwritten Seattle Peach 100 Factsheet from each person.

I filled out the Factsheet just for fun to get us started. You should be able to click the image to view a larger, more legible version. Check back often to see who makes the cut!

Toro y Moi, Braids and Cloud Nothings Tomorrow Night at Crocodile

2011-03-26T16:02:00.000-07:00

Will Seattle just stop it already with these packed bills where every single band is just outrageously awesome?!?!

The Crocodile is the big winner this time, with Toro y Moi, Braids, and Cloud Nothings all slated to take the stage on Sunday night. Count it as another hugely anticipated show in Seattle Peach's calendar, with each artist bringing a little something different to the table.

Seattle Peach thinks Toro y Moi's Chazwick Bundick is stinking adorable, in sound and style. And not in any sort of patronizing way--I just think he's playful and quirky and maybe a little nerdy. His smooth operator chillwave grooves so hard I can barely stand it sometimes. He's got the full package as far as entertainers go, and Sunday night he's about to shut the Croc down.

Braids were incredible last month when they played at Chop Suey, and maybe this time they won't even be exhausted and sickly. If the bill gets stacked the way I expect it to, with Braids as the second headliner, they will serve as the perfect transition between Toro y Moi and Cloud Nothings. They bridge this divide somewhere between swirling whimsy and determined contemplation, like a child's eyes pleading for answers. Their album review at Pitchfork put it best when they said "There are dreams, there are nightmares, and then there are those night visions that don't quite qualify as either..."

Seattle Peach just discovered Cloud Nothings a few weeks back, and fell in love with their goofy music video for "Nothing's Wrong." Their boppy power pop is an excellent choice for an opener, it's guaranteed to get the crowd in the mood to party, which btw starts at 8PM. Tickets are $10 and it's 21 and up. See ya there!

Toro Y Moi "New Beat" by carparkrecords
Braids - Glass Deers by oh my grimm
Cloud Nothings - Understand At All by forcefieldpr

Live Review: Crystal Castles at Showbox Sodo

2011-03-10T17:05:00.000-08:00

Seattle Peach had an amazing time at Crystal Castles on Tuesday night. I swear they played every single song I could possibly want to hear, I danced my little peachy brains out, and they looked incredible. The light show was spectacular. I wasn't able to get a good view of the stage for most of the show, and all I could see was the light show. It all by itself was keeping me entertained. Alice Glass was playing on a broken ankle, for which she was apparently advised to cancel the tour. But of course, this pint sized rock star could not be stopped, and she murdered that stage despite the massive boot strapped to one of her legs.

That woman is bananas--broken bones barely slowed her down. She just propped it up on a monitor, leaned forward, and snarled into the crowd. Or she'd hop around on one foot! She even climbed into the front of the crowd, all wild eyed and crazy, as if it were any other show. Alice Glass is a fucking force, and might even be possessed by the devil. Seattle Peach would not want to cross her in a dark alley, but she is absolutely mesmerizing. I heard she was raised by some cult in Canada? I hope that's true. The paradox of her stunning beauty and the demented persona she displays is simply intoxicating. Seattle Peach can't get enough.

While Crystal Castles pulled off a great performance, there were a few minor issues. I don't think the vocals were coming through properly until the band played "Empathy" about half way through the set. It seemed like maybe they were coming through in the monitors, but not through the main speakers, because the first half of the set lacked a bit of intensity. Maybe the bass wasn't up very high either? There was something about the venue that was just a little bit too bright, too open to set the proper atmosphere for this show. It kind of made me wonder...what would it be like to see Crystal Castles in a different venue? I wish I had had it in me to see them at Sasquatch when they played in the Dance Tent in 2009, but I just listened from outside. I think a more cave-like environment suits Crystal Castles' dark, nu rave sound better than the high ceilings of Showbox Sodo.

Also, the crowd this kind of show (electronic/dance music) tends to attract can be pretty unruly, and not in the good way. It's a lot of young, inexperienced kids on a lot of drugs, and they can be SO obnoxious. One girl literally shit herself at this show. I mean, COME ON. It's the whole reason I didn't go inside the Dance Tent to see Crystal Castles at Sasquatch in the first place. Basically, if you yourself are in that head space, maybe everyone in the crowd won't drive you totally bonkers. But if you're not, Seattle Peach advises staying at the back or anywhere else you can avoid the crowd (you'll probably have a better view of the show anyway).

Sometimes though, you have to just bite the bullet and get into the crowd anyway, because sometimes part of the point is flailing about and getting sweaty and getting shoved around a little bit. This was the case for Seattle Peach at this show, and I had a fantastic time. Unfortunately the band put the kibosh on photo passes for this one, so Seattle Peach didn't get any photos, but please enjoy this video of Alice Glass beating some kid over the head with a microphone. Peach out!

ALICE GLASS BEATS IDIOT OVER HEAD WITH MICROPHONE 08 from cancer dancer on Vimeo.

Crystal Castles at Showbox SoDo March 8

2011-03-07T14:23:00.000-08:00

Seattle Peach cannot contain her excitement for Crystal Castles tomorrow night at the Showbox. Their first album was a fast favorite, with all of that unbridled 8-bit fury. I gave the follow up full length a luke warm review, but after giving the album a second chance just a few months later, I was downright obsessed. Crystal Castles have matured their sound and production quite a bit, but the emotional timbre is still resonate. Ethan Kath's beats are wicked, innovative, and explore new territory, while Alice Glass is a sonic savage, a cyborg of sound. The group is known for their explosive live shows, although they do have a reputation for having terrible sound quality because their set up is so demanding. Tomorrow night at the Showbox will be their chance to show Seattle fans that they can harness the raw power of their music into a live set. They will blow minds. They will melt faces.

Ticket holders should note that the show has been moved to Showbox's SoDo location due to ticket sales (it's sold out, yo!). Be sure to plan accordingly.
Empathy - Crystal Castles by Melodia

Live Review: Braids at Chop Suey

2011-03-05T18:47:00.000-08:00

Braids had two major issues working against them from the get go: a.) Lead singer, Raphaelle "Raphie" Stadell-Preston, was visibly battling a flu bug, popping cough drops and stacking up a good pile of tissues on an amp during soundcheck and b.) The headliner, Baths, arrived late, so all of the set times were pushed back an hour, creating a surly and impatient crowd. The band was extremely meticulous in getting their levels right, and it couldn't have been fun to have to soundcheck in front of a grumpy audience, but damn did that precision pay off.

Braids sounded freaking spectacular, their soaring vocal harmonies immaculately balanced, and the band members really played off of one another and connected in a visceral way. The result was sonically divine. It was pretty much as close to the album as you could possibly expect from a live show. It was a new and different experience for Seattle Peach to be in a crowd where everyone is standing around with their hands in their pockets, and have that be totally appropriate. And while Braids isn't the sort of band that's real flashy with this crazy performance component, the music, and specifically their delivery of their music, was so fantastically technical, I was totally mesmerized. These kids have a crazy amount of talent. Like, woah.

Seattle Peach was there in the front row grabbing snaps with the Canon. Check 'em out below.

Baths + Braids at Chop Suey TOMORROW!!

2011-02-28T23:32:00.000-08:00

Chop Suey does it again, with a killer line up set for tomorrow night that promises to please. Perhaps more so than the headliner (ambient beat maker, Baths) Seattle Peach is stoked to see Canadian shoegaze outfit, Braids, take the stage. I was turned on to Braids early this year by our friends over at the Seattle Disconnect, who put their debut album, Native Speaker, on a compilation of sweet new tunes just for yours truly. The chilled out dream pop sound of the critically praised foursome has been a welcomed breath of fresh air in the cold winter months, giving cause to curl up in front of my heater and get creative to the tune of these pretty songs. Such cerebral sounds can be difficult to pull off in the live format, but Seattle Peach is sure that the attractive quartet will give us something lovely to stare at.

Doors are at 8PM. 21 and up, $12 at the door. See ya there!
Braids - Lemonade by rebecca_schiller

Baths - Aminals by musicmule

Miss Indigo Blue's Academy of Burlesque

2011-02-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

Winter-blahs getting you down? Looking for a sexy way to shape up for the impending spring/summer season? Seattle Peach has the answer for you!

Miss Indigo Blue's Academy of Burlesque offers weekly classes and periodic workshops that are a fabulous way to get your blood pumping, your body moving, and your juices flowing (err, your creative juices, that is). A slightly more tasteful alternative to the stripper aerobics trend, Academy of Burlesque teaches tantalizing moves and techniques that can be used in or out of the bedroom. Placing emphasis on the tease rather than sleaze, classes like Bump & Grind, Bellydance, and Burlesque & Boylesque 101 are taught by stars of Seattle burlesque, including Kitten LaRue and Ruby Mimosa of the Atomic Bombshells, Fuchsia Foxxx, and of course, Miss Indigo Blue herself. There are plenty of sexy fun times to be had at all levels. Spring sessions are just around the corner, but drop ins are always welcome. Visit the Academy of Burlesque website for more details on the when and where and shimmy and shake your way to swimsuit season!

Sasquatch 2011 Line Up Officially Announced

2011-02-07T23:44:00.000-08:00

The Sasquatch line up has been officially announced! Seattle Peach was at the launch party last night to witness the unveiling (as well as stellar performances from Mad Rad and Das Racist), and what a line up it is! For the 10 year anniversary, Sasquatch will be a whopping four days long this year. Can you handle? Best start saving your pennies because tickets ain't cheap, and it shall be the party of the summer. Who are you most excited to see?

The Return of Theorem at Electric Tea Garden

2011-02-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

This weekend Seattle Peach stopped by the Electric Tea Garden for the return of Theorem, a monthly after party with resident DJs WD4D and Sho-Nuph on the decks. Similar to LA's Low End Theory, WD4D describes the night as "the one night that we really unleash the new-new experimental styles.

Seattle Peach missed most of the residents' sets, but caught guest DJs Dead Noise and OC Notes, who tore the fucking roof off. Scroll for a few snaps of the festivities!

The Blow at the Crocodile

2011-02-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

Seeing the Blow play at the Crocodile on Friday night was just what Seattle Peach needed. It was fun and relaxing, sounded great, and was even a bit intellectual.

Khaela Maricich (the Blow's front woman and only remaining original member) began by informing us of her adventures since her last show in Seattle a number of years ago, including her professional escapades as a songwriter for a pop culture princess. She wouldn't name the pop star outright, merely hinting and alluding to said pop star's salacious tabloid scandals and lesbian love affair that crumbled in the limelight. Yes, that's right, for all intents and purposes, is seems as though Khaela is writing Lindsay Lohan's next album.

Khaela performed a number of tracks from this upcoming album, which was both a treat (getting to see the tracks performed by their true originator) and also strange in a way (hearing someone sing and perform songs that are written for someone else, from someone else's perspective). Khaela really dove in and is grappling in a very genuine way with what it means to be this woman, this woman is who is so very different from herself. When she performed her old material, you could see that she was trying to slip into the persona of this pop star, to perform the way a pop star would perform, which means selling your body and your image as passionately as you sell your voice and your melody. Khaela made a point to make clear, she doesn't do parody, and so although it may seem as though she was mocking this pop star, it is only because performing in such a way does not come so naturally to her. Seattle Peach was moved by her compassion, and for her willingness to engage so sincerely with a mindset and personality that is so foreign to her own.

When I first saw the Blow open for of Montreal in 2007, I was bored and unimpressed by her rambling soliloquies stringing together a small handful of actual songs. She is a bit of a spoken word performance artist in the way she structures her set. She used a similar format for this show, but the content of her ramblings was much more engaging, and she carried a theme through the show from start to finish, creating a more cohesive feeling to the set as a whole, and Seattle Peach very much enjoyed it this go around. Age and experience has been kind to Khaela, and she has grown quite pleasingly into a thoughtful and provocative storyteller.

Seattle Peach grabbed a few snaps on the good ol' point and shoot at the show. Scroll for the snaps!

Get Glam: Seattle Pride

2011-01-25T17:03:00.000-08:00

Seattle Peach rocked this look for the Seattle Pride "Hey Tranny, It's Tranny" party of Havana. Obviously, it is a blatant rip off of Lady Gaga's homage to Bowie in her "Just Dance" music video. An homage to an homage. I had been longing for an opportunity to try this look, and the Pride event seemed suitable for its debut. The party was a total blast, definitely one of the highlights of last summer. I snuck off to Cha Cha with Krista Kelly of Shesho Designs where we had this impromptu photoshoot.

Here are some of the key products Seattle Peach used to create this look:
Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Turquoise 7L $17: I used this vibrant pencil to both outline and fill the lightening bolt. The pigment is very potent, so I had to be careful during application, but the slightly creamy texture made it fairly easy to correct mistakes. Also, the fine tip and long length of the pencil gave me a lot of control when drawing the shape onto the contours of my face.

Make Up Forever Eye Shadows in Turquoise Matte 72, Yellow 2 & Neon Pink 75 $19: The blue (turquoise) shadow was used over the pencil to deepen and set the color of the lightening bolt. Once the shadow is applied, it is much more difficult to correct mistakes, but dammit if that color won't stick. You'll definitely want wipe down with some make up remover at the end of the night if you don't want a bright blue mess all over your pillow. The pink and yellow are used on the eyelids as shadow, with the yellow in the inner corners of the eye and blending into the pink midway over the lid. The high-pigment shadows are bright enough to stand alone, even when competing with an electric splash of blue down the middle of the face.

Almay Liquid Eye Liner in Black $7 from Walgreens: Seattle Peach was hipped to this cheapo liquid liner from a friend who works at one of the Macy's make up counters. I had previously been using a gifted liner that was designed and marketed specifically for performance. When I tried the Almay liner, I was impressed right off the bat by the ease of applicability, as well as how even the liquid went on. After dancing like a wild woman in a sweaty crowd, the liner held up, and I didn't look like a completely disaster as I emerged panting from the dance floor.

Mehron Barrier Spray Fixer & Sealer $10 from Champion Party Supply: When applying a make up look this dramatic, it is a good idea to use a sealant to really lock in the color and insure that that shit ain't goin no where. There are designer products available, but Seattle Peach copped this barrier spray on the cheap from Champion down on the bottom of Denny, and it works great. You may want to dust a little powder over the top to prevent cracking, but you can spray an entire bottle of champagne in your face and your make up will still look spectacular.

Lashes $3 from Happy Mart (next to the post office on Broadway & Denny): Make Up Forever and MAC both make drop dead gorgeous, super high quality false lashes that will last you for a minute, but they are spendy, ranging from about $15-20. You can get a totally suitable pair for under $5 from most dollar stores, and if you're careful (and not tearing them drunkenly from your eyeballs and tossing them wherever is most convenient before you pass out at the end of the night) they can actually withstand a number of uses.

Johnny Jewel is a genius

2011-01-24T17:22:00.000-08:00

Johnny Jewel has made a nu disco convert out of Seattle Peach!

The Glass Candy/Chromatics/Desire show at Chop Suey on Saturday night was simply bananas. I had the time of my life from the moment I walked in the doors, till the moment I walked out. Glass Candy lays it down so hard, like the pros that they are, inciting near riot style dance pits. Chromatics have come a long way since the OG Seattle line up, and this peach is love love loving the sound. They are just so dreamy (both sonically and physically)! Desire was spectaular as well, doing a fantastic job kicking the night off with a bang. Seattle Peach was right up front snapping away with the new camera (and is getting better at shooting live, if I do say so myself...), so take a look kiddos, and relive the magic!

Glass Candy at Chop Suey Tomorrow Night

2011-01-21T17:09:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow night Seattle Peach will be wreaking havoc and burnin up dance floors at the Glass Candy show at Chop Suey. If you're not already hip to the Portland-based disco dance rock duo, now is your chance to get in the know. It's a regular Saturday night ode to Johnny Jewel (Glass Candy's producer/multi-instrumentalist), with his ambient post-punk project, Chromatics and bilingual space disco outfit, Desire, each serving as the evenings openers. Also on hand will be DJ Jodi Bon Jodi and DJ Porq on the decks, keeping the night alive every moment along the way.

Doors are at 9PM//21+
$10 Adv//$12 Day Of
Get advanced tickets online at TicketWeb

Beatific - Glass Candy by ohannessian

In the City by Chromatics by olyspirit

Desire- Don't Call by cmjct

Bowiemas 2011

2011-01-06T12:17:00.000-08:00

The first time Seattle Peach attended Bowiemas, a once-yearly border-line religious birthday bash for glam legend, David Bowie, I awoke 15 minutes late for work in a PBR soaked heap of glitter and spandex, with last night's face paint running down my neck. That was year 2 (or maybe 3...). For the five year anniversary, Seattle Peach covered the burgeoning annual for Sound Magazine's "Around Town" column, exposing the balls out nature of the party, as well as the virtual catwalk of fashion adorning the guests. This year, Bowiemas will be held in the Underground Events Center on 1st & Wall, signifying a breakout into the mainstream as far as venues go. Don't think that means less drunken debauchery--Bowiemas is bigger and better than ever.

The event invitation details this year's festivities as follows:

A wonderful burlesque performance by the fantabulous Wiggy Stardust and friends.
Costume contest around 11 o'clock with prizes
The midnight mass
A full bar (cash only)
and of course dancing all night!

Get your tickets at Moksha in the U Distrist. And hurry up! Tickets are going fast. Dress code will be strictly enforced, so best be breaking into your lycra, lace and lingerie. It's time to put on your red shoes and dance the blues. LET'S DANCE!

Just Like Heaven in 2011

2011-01-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

Seattle Peach is excited for the new year, and can feel that rejuvenated energy emanating from all over the city. As another year closes, I prefer to look to the future rather than the past. This year, Seattle Peach is excited to delve deeper and explore new genres of music as well as develop a greater understanding of the strengths and limitations of Seattle's unique fashion scene.

Seattle Peach has never once in this lifetime created a top ten list. Thank you, John Roderick, for this incredible articulation of ten reasons why. However, some friends of Seattle Peach launched a new blog this week featuring a great list of 2010 favorites, so definitely check that out, and add Seattle Disconnect to your feed.

It's going to be a great year, my friends! Keep it peachy!

Aloe Blacc at Nectar

2010-11-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

Last night Seattle Peach ventured out into the pouring rain to see Aloe Blacc at Nectar in Fremont. MMmm-hmmm. That man can SING! He was doing everything from funk and soul to, um, excuse me? Green Day?!? The crowd was pretty rowdy for a while, but thinned out soon after he played "I Need A Dollar." Seattle Peach was having a great time groovin in the back with a few of my favorite people. I did grab some snaps while I was there, so you know the drill: scroll on, peaches!

Mad Rad & Metal Chocolates at Black Lodge

2010-11-03T16:52:00.000-07:00

Last week Seattle Peach celebrated a "cheat day" during a 3 month sabbatical from drinking at the Black Lodge with Metal Chocolates and Mad Rad. The show was awesome--the Black Lodge is a great venue for subversive rabble rousers like these two acts, and the energy was extraordinary. Seattle Peach brought the new camera out and shot some photos of the guys in their element. Scroll for the snaps!

Blush Photo Takes A Bite Outta the Big Apple

2010-11-03T12:33:00.000-07:00

This week marks the end of an era for Seattle nightlife photography. Blush Photo's Kristen Truax, one of this city's most notorious shutterbugs, is leaving us for the bright lights of New York City. After nearly a decade of snapping shots at shows and parties and capturing some of the most exquisite portraits of notable Seattleites, Blush Photo is blowing town for bigger and better things. As one of Seattle Peach's dearest friends, I will be sad to see Kristen go, but am beside myself with excitement to see what someone with her talent and drive will accomplish when the sky's the limit. Plus, now Seattle Peach has a couch to crash on when I go to NYC.

Kristen will be having a going away party at Moe Bar tonight at 8PM for any friends or fans who want to come out and send her off.

Scroll for some of my favorite snaps Blush Photo has taken over the years.

Photo of the Day: D.

2010-11-02T21:43:00.000-07:00

Photo of the Day: RC

2010-10-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

Photo by Seattle Peach

New Jam From Crystal Castles ft. Robert Smith

2010-10-28T10:38:00.000-07:00

Download Crystal Castle's new song, "Not In Love", off their upcoming new album. It's a cover of a song originally performed by 80s new wave band, Platinum Blonde, and as if to exploit the new wave thing as much as they can, they pulled the Cure's Robert Smith in on it. SO GOOD!

Millie Vixen's Camille Goodman

2010-10-27T17:05:00.000-07:00

Millie Vixen’s Camille Goodman is a bit of a genius, really. The budding young designer, influenced by Betsey Johnson, Vivienne Westwood and the classic corseting of Dior, takes time-honored cuts and vintage prints to create exquisitely girlish party dresses, embellished with that signature Millie Vixen flair. She straddles the divide between vintage and contemporary fashion expertly, producing striking garments that are at once trendy and timeless.

When Seattle Peach caught up with the 22-year-old fashionista, she was looking fresh and flirty in a circle skirt and kitten heels, poised at her work space at New York Fashion Academy in Ballard. She was in between classes, prepping for her new teaching gig. Fresh off of her achievements with Seattle Magazine’s Seamless in Seattle and a fashion show the week before, Camille was working on preparing her fall looks for the Sunny Mood is Fashion show at the Hard Rock Cafe.

Learning to sew from her seamstress mother at an early age, Camille has been inspired by vintage fashions since she was a young teenager. “The first real thing that I made by myself was a circle skirt,” she says, “it was made out of this crazy neon vintage print and I put pink tulle at the bottom and then I put in this invisible zipper, but it was very visible...It’s this lime green zipper, and there is absolutely no lime green in the skirt. It’s pretty funny looking, but I like it.”

After a high school internship at then Greenwood boutique, Pretty Parlor, Camille decided she wanted to do a clothing line for her senior project. “I had kind of been acclimated with a lot of local designers and (Pretty Parlor) also houses vintage in (the) shop, so I sort of wanted to marry the two for my project,” says Camille. When she completed her senior project, Camille started selling her designs at Pretty Parlor, as well as Velouria. She reminiscences, “One day I saw one of the coolest girls on Capitol Hill, that I kind of knew, but had never talked to because she’s so cool. I saw her wearing one of my dresses, and I just died. I thought that was so awesome...When I saw people wearing my clothes and buying my clothes and really liking my ideas, I think that really told my that this is what I wanted to do.”

After a stint at community college to get her Business Entrepreneurship Certificate, she settled at the New York Fashion Academy in Ballard. “Since I was self-taught, I got (to NYFA) and realized I got a lot of things wrong.” she remembers, “I stopped selling in stores right around that time so I could focus on school and relearning a lot of the techniques that I thought I knew, but didn’t. I’ve pretty much been doing that ever since.”

With her time at New York Fashion Academy coming to a close, Camille has been hard at work preparing for the “real world” of fashion. After she graduates, Camille plans to head to the Big Apple to pursue her dreams, and actually make a living off of her art. “As much as I love Seattle,” she says, “I don’t think that I could do that here.” In the meantime, she plans to sell on etsy and resume selling in boutiques, and looks to expand to California and New York.

Recently, Camille placed as a runner up in the Seamless in Seattle competition. Part of her winnings included participation in the Fashion First show, which, according to Camille, was pretty legit: “I don’t think I’ve ever been a part of a fashion show where John Curley was the auctioneer and Dino Rossi was backstage with the Seattle Police Force.”

The Sunny Mood is Fashion show was bit more low-key that that, and definitely more on the rock ’n’ roll tip. Seattle Peach was most anticipating Camille’s looks for the show, because Millie Vixen is traditionally full of bright, whimsical colors perfectly suited for spring/summer. I had not yet seen anything from Camille that screamed fall/winter, and Seattle Peach was deeply intrigued by what Camille would present.

When asked about how her look would translate to fall, Camille said, “I’m such a...happy color floral person that fall/winter kind of boggles my mind...it’s hard when people’s color palettes are so brown/gray/green, and you’re like but what about this neon pink floral? Definitely, my color palette is lighter still, light browns, and...I really love teal. I think I incorporate that teal/turquoise color in every season because I love it so much and I think it flatters so many different skin types...This fall for the fall/winter looks, I definitely was inspired a bit more by Victorian (era fashion), and interesting pattern work. I wanted to try pleating and draping and big sleeves and stuff that I haven’t gotten to do or haven’t really had the time for. I’ve gotten to do that for these pieces.”

The result was stunning, totally wearable, fashion-forward looks that pay homage to the history of fashion. The silhouettes remain feminine and coquettish, while the palette is just a bit more subdued. Millie Vixen is a rock star and Camille can do anything. Mark my words, big, BIG things are on the horizon for this stylish little peach. Here’s what Camille had to say when Seattle Peach quizzed her on fall fashion:

What is your favorite part of fall?
I love summer most of all, but I love the beginning of fall, kind of like right now where, I have to change over my closet (I have a summer/spring closet and a fall/winter closet), then I discover new clothing that I have. I have to start wearing my patterned tights, and then I have to say, ‘OK, with these patterned tights I’m going to wear this skirt and I’m going to wear this shirt.’ I think that layering is really fun. At a point I get super cold. and then that nostalgic greatness of layering kind of goes away. Then I’m just freaking cold and I get out my big coat and then you’re wearing your Columbia Sportswear jacket, because honestly, it’s the warmest thing you have, and you have to wear it. And I love boots, I love boots and buying new boots and wearing them with tights. I think fall fashion is really exciting, too, because everyone starts to look at fashion and even people who aren’t into fashion kind of look at what’s really trendy. I think out of the whole year, I hear people talking about what’s trendy most of all during fall. It’s really an exciting time for getting dressed up and laying and buying new sweater. Oh yes, buying new sweaters! Shopping! Spending money!

If you could buy one item this season, what would you buy?
Going back to boots, I think I’d want to buy some thigh high boots that you could roll down to under the knee. If I had the money, that’s what I’d buy. I’ve seen some thigh high boots becoming popular within the last year. I remember before that it was kind of hookery, not that hooker-chic is coming back into fashion or anything, but I think people are taking more risks, and I dig it. And I’ve seen some more affordable boots like that so I think I would buy those. Either this year or next year.

What are your predictions for the fall season in Seattle?
I’ve been noticing a lot of fur, and I love fur and I love seeing girls wear fur and people wearing fur so I really hope that I see a lot of that. Even just as an accessory, feathers and stuff? Violet Magpie, I think, and that type of thing. I’ve been loving that and fur.

Nina's Friday Night Playlist

2010-10-15T15:19:00.000-07:00

✓ Lose Control  Novel Legato Blues Summer
✓ Momentum Quantum Suicide Momentum
✓ Death of the Party  Hi Life Soundsystem
✓ #Allaboutthat  Skyzoo & Illmind Live from the tape deck
✓ Sweet Sour You (ft. Bilal)  Sa-Ra The Hollywood Recordings
✓ Whatcha Wan Do  DJ Quik & Kurupt BlaQKout
✓ Cali Bud Featuring Jewel B.  Champagne Champagne Champagne Champagne
✓ Just Friends (Sunny) Musiq Soulchild Aijuswanaseing
✓ Bump  Spank Rock Yoyoyoyoyo
✓ Nuff Fire  Abstract Rude Rejuvenation (Clean)

TONIGHT! Jamie Von Stratton Runway Show

2010-10-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach is stuck at work tonight, but this fashion show is going to be OFF THE CHAIN!! A benefit event for the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, besides a night full of "She-Jays" workin the decks and entertainment from aerialists and bellydancers, there will be a runway show featuring designs from five local designers, including the in all ways amazing and splediferous, Jamie Von Stratton. Seattle Peach just picked up a custom altered party dress that Jamie made out of a 1950's prom dress I had stashed in my closet since high school--that girl's got mad skills. If you haven't checked out Jamie's designs live and in person, tonight is your chance. PLEASE go to the Little Red Studio this evening at 7PM sharp for all the fun.

Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets.

Sunny Mood Is Fashion Runway Show

2010-10-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

Tiffany Lowry does it again--the Sunny Mood is Fashion runway show at Hard Rock Cafe was a great success. There were a few technical difficulties due to the unconventional venue, but the fashion was on point.

The Bandwagon skate/snowboarding line was really simple, casual pieces (mostly t-shirts and hoodies), but Seattle Peach appreciated that the models were styled well, with big hair, fishnets and no pants. zuzupop displayed great clothes for the 9-5er--clean, professional silhouettes with bright, unexpected colors as accents. Seattle Peach was feeling the big, clunky jewelry of Divine Design, although it's a look I can't personally pull off. The silk undergarments and sleepwear from staplesonline.com appeared cozy and decadently comfortable, but not overtly sexy.

Seattle Peach's three favorite designers of the night were the last to grace the runway. Millie Vixen is always fabulous and a bit cheeky with her creative use of fabrics and construction, and she displayed her ability to be versatile, using a more subdued palette than we're used to seeing. Like A Rock Star's whimsical take on classic tailored suits is so fashion-forward--Seattle Peach just loves his use of strong, standout hues and flirtatious styling. The deconstructed gowns by Frocky Jack Morgan made a convert out of me--I can't wait to get my hands on one. The unfinished hemlines and fur layering on the backside are so creative and stunning. Seattle Peach can totally see Marla Singer from Fight Club rocking one of these gowns.

All in all a fantastic event. Scroll for snaps by Blush Photo.

Bandwagon

zuzupop

staplesonline.com & Divine Design

Millie Vixen

Like A Rock Star

Frocky Jack Morgan

Blush Photo & Seattle Peach

Rusko: Show Review

2010-10-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

Showbox @ the Market 10/1/10

There was not a pause in momentum to be had for Rusko's mind-bending performance at the Showbox on the first of this month. Even before I got into the show, I was weaving my way through a cloud of smoke and a mob of 20 somethings who were obviously under the influence of various substances. The stretch of pavement in front of the Showbox was crammed with people begging for tickets, even until the final moments of the performance. Inside, the Showbox was a sauna, packed to the brim with half-naked bodies, relentlessly dancing the night away on an already humid Seattle evening.

Rusko took to the turntables near midnight until a quarter to 2 and it was immediately apparent that Mr. Mercer was going to be putting on a fucking show. He tore open the Showbox's sound system and immediately began dancing, fistpumping, and screaming to the ravenous crowd. I've not seen the Showbox in a more complete frenzy as it was for Rusko's set; every body from stage to bar seemed possessed to move to the thumping synth tracks and wobbly bass lines. The dance floor was a mass of sweat-covered bodies, arms and glowsticks flailing to every beat. For a dubstep show, I was thoroughly impressed by the energy. But this wasn't an ordinary dubstep show, and Mercer's demeanor unlike other dubstep artists. The man's stage presence was astonishing. He was a fit of high energy that seemed to spill out of his knobs and into the hungry crowd. In a scene full of one-man performances, in a genre that's known for it's darkness, it's no surprise that Rusko's forcefully fun music has won over a legion of adoring fans all over the world in just a matter of years. He seemed to take up the entire stage, or at least the stupid happy grin he had the entire show filled the rest. Mercer looked absolutely thrilled to be there and the crowd was adamantly pleased to have him, mixing to create a perfect storm of infectious fun.

Do yourself a favor and catch one of his shows if he ever rolls close; his night at the Showbox was kind of legendary. If you think I'm being hyperbolic, you should find out for yourself.

Big thanks to Kaos Theory for putting this on!

You can see the rest of the photos here!

Run Vera Run!

2010-10-07T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Vera Project is putting on their 2nd annual Run Vera Run event this Sunday at the beautiful Seward Park! It's the perfect opportunity to dust off the running shoes and come out to show support for Seattle's all-ages music scene! We've all been minors before, but not all of us have been lucky enough to live in a city that gives a shit. The Vera Project has provided nearly a decade of legitimate music for the Seattle kids, and with a little help from everyone we'll have many decades more to look forward to!

There will be a 4K walk around the Seward Park loop, or, for the ambitious among us, a 10K professionally timed run that continues onto Lake Washington Boulevard. So, zip on over to RunVeraRun.org to get yourself registered - or, at least, encourage your more athletically-inclined friends to do so.

What to expect:

A great warm up routine!

Post-run performance from The Redwood Plan

Prizes for the top fundraisers and fastest 10k finishers!

Complimentary refreshments from vitaminwater and Caffe Vita!

Complimentary fruit and snacks before the run and Via Tribunali's mobile pizza oven after the run!

A stylish Run Vera Run t-shirt for everyone who raises $35 or more!

Hip Hop Career & Business Expo

2010-10-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

A little somethin' for the kids! Seattle Peach thinks it's really cool that some of the local hip hop scene's biggest power players are coming together to put on this event at the Vera Project. As part of the Mayor's Office of Film & Music's City of Music Festival, youngsters will have the opportunity to gain solid advice from some really cool cats who have figured out how to actually make a living doing what they love. It's great to see inspirational people doing their part to foster future generations. Big ups, guys!

Reverb Festival to showcase Seattle's best!

2010-10-06T14:46:00.000-07:00

Feral Children

Seattle Weekly's Reverb Festival is just around the corner and you'd be a fool to miss it! The fourth year of SW's local music showcase boasts a staggering 60+ of the hottest of Seattle's hot! And at only $10 for a 21+ all access wristband there's not a reason I can imagine you wouldn't get your ass down there. Study the schedule carefully though - the band's will be spread out all over Ballard Ave in just about every place you can stick a stage, so plan accordingly.

Check the list of bands and be sure to click the bold ones to hear some of Seattle Peach's picks for the festival! And don't forget to vote for you favorite act before the 9th to earn them a spot to play at the upcoming Iceland Airwaves Music Festival, October 14-18th.

Nettle Honey / Thee Sgt. Major III / Imperial Legions Of Rome / Combo Craig / M Bison / The Moonspinners / Massey Ferguson / DJ Dev From Above / Idle Times / Watch It Sparkle / The Chevy Chasers / Dawn Clement / Wild Orchid Children / Gregory Paul / Virgin / Lindsay Fuller & The Cheap Dates / Bernie Jacobs Quartet / Throne Of Bone / Roy Kay Combo / The Drunken Masters / Whalebones / Carrie Clark & The Lonesome Lovers / Kinski / Caspar Babypants / Yuni In Taxco / Post Harbor / Ivan & Alyosha / Vultures 2012 / Feral Children / Eighty 4 Fly / Helladope / Hi-Life Sound System / The Not-Its / Lincoln Barr / Ravenna Woods / Shelby Earl / Lisa Dank / Sol / The Absolute Monarchs / Kristen Ward / Goat / Amateur Radio Operator / My Goodness / Low Land High / Thousands / Sparrow-Bot / What What Now / The Young Evils / He Whose Ox Is Gored / The Fucking Eagles / Kimo Muraki / The Jason Parker Quartet / Erin Jorgensen / Low Hums / Smooth Sailing / Hobosexual / Dog Shredder / Victor Shade / Cady Wire / JFK aka Ninjaface / The Sea Navy / EXOHXO

Nina's Friday Night Playlist

2010-10-02T08:43:00.000-07:00

✓ Wake Up Everybody (Feat. Common & Melanie Fiona)  John Legend & The Roots Wake Up
✓ Clay Flying Lotus Pattern+Grid
✓ Act 1  MF Doom Featuring Big Benn Klingon Expektoration
✓ $4 Love Song  Plastic Little She's Mature
✓ Incredible (prod by. sebastian)  Mickey Factz It's Mickey The Future
✓ The Day  The Roots Feat. Blu, Phonte & Patty Crash How I Got Over (Explicit)
✓ Tightrope (Feat. Big Boi)  Janelle Monáe The ArchAndroid
✓ Give It To Me  SPACEMAN f./ Rob Harris Greetings Earthlings the mixtape
✓ Ethiopian Soul  Gabriel Teodros GT's Ethiopium: A Jitter Generation Mixtape
✓ Ms. Vampire Booty  Mos Dub

Show Review: Neon Indian @ the Showbox

2010-10-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

Hearing Neon Indian play at the Showbox last Monday was like hearing their music again for the very first time - or like hearing the band play in 3-D. Alan Palomo took center stage, perched behind a keyboard on one side and a stack of various electronic equipment on the other, with a mess of pedals and cables shooting every which way. If anyone was impressed that Alan Palomo composed the entirety of Psychic Chasms by his lonesome, you'll be shocked to hear those same hooks and beats come to life on stage in a blisteringly bright vortex of sound.

With Jason Faries up on drums, Ronald Geirhart on guitar, and Leanne Macomber on an extra keyboard and back-up vocals, the Neon Indian sound explodes with depth and complexity - giving the lo-fi band an almost orchestral feel. On purpose or not, the difference between the album and the live set is like the difference between a worn-out cassette tape on shitty earbuds and, well, having the band play every beat and note directly in front of you, exactly how it was meant to be played. With other chillwave bands emphasizing their lo-fi roots to relative extremes lately, sometimes to a disastrous result on stage, it's refreshing to say that there was nothing chill at all about Neon Indian's live set. With his fellow band members on back-up, Palomo was left to focus very specifically on vocals, his theremin (fuck yea!), and warping and contorting the familiar album sounds into nooks and crannies in his songs that I didn't even know existed. Palomo had a deathly confident look in his eyes the entire night, staring forcefully back at a crowd that, obviously, couldn't keep their shit together. A projector screen behind the drums was a constant visual display of something similar to the Psychic Chasms artwork - even the guitarist had the same visual mirrored to an LCD screen on his guitar.

Every song was pitch-perfect, and then some. All in all, a spectacular showcase of fresh talent that left me with na ecstatic feeling for the direction the band is taking. Keep an eye on Palomo. If you could tell anything from his behavior on stage, it's that he's not even close to being through with blowing our minds.

Photos by Janae Jones.

Salem Releases Full Length Debut On IAMSOUND

2010-09-30T13:31:00.000-07:00

Standing outside Neumos a few months ago, my friend Bryce started going off on this band I'd never heard of. Bryce has a great ear and an eclectic taste in music, so Seattle Peach was more than a bit interested.

Between excitable proclamations of genius, two words stuck out in my mind--"witch house" and Salem. Usually I am not so drawn to music that indulges so heavily in despair, but Salem's sonic examination of darkness is really quite intriguing. It's strange and isolating, elusive, artful and dramatic. Check it out for yourself! It's perfect ambiance for these increasingly dark days. Peep the video below and download Asia (oOoOO Remix).

Tonight! Sunny Mood Is Fashion at Hard Rock!

2010-09-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! Sunny Mood is Fashion is back with a BANG! Light Black, Sunny Mood's fall/winter show, will reinvigorate Seattle's sense of fashion and fabulousness, even as the weather starts to turn and looking incredible starts to feel a little pointless. For this installment, Sunny Mood founder and head peach in charge, Tiffany Lowry, has expanded her network of featured designers all the way down the West Coast. Men, Martians, & Machines will be kicking off the show, where everyone will be provided with a complimentary cocktail (woot!). After the fashion show, participants will have the opportunity to win some of the gorgeous gowns fresh off the runway and get a warm fuzzy feeling from supporting Beast Cancer Network of Strength (it's a two-fer!).

To learn more about the designers who will be at the show tonight, as well as more information on ticketing, visit the Sunny Mood Is Fashion website.

OMG! Rusko!!

2010-09-29T14:36:00.000-07:00

Christopher Mercer, most commonly known as Rusko (Official | Myspace), is gearing up to tear your shit apart this Friday night at the Showbox at the Market! Hot on the heels of the release of his most recent LP, O.M.G.!, Mr. Mercer has been playing to sold out crowds all over the west coast this summer. Now it's Seattle's turn to get rocked by the UK-native's dynamic dance floor escapades.

Though his music certainly falls into the broader umbrella of the dubstep genre, Mercer dislikes the label of being a dubstep producer. "I am a musician full stop," he says, "I don’t feel limited at all in the direction I’d be willing to take my music." His most recent LP reflects this, jumping to and fro and back again, touching on so many other ideas that the dubstep label begins to make less and less sense. Dubstep purists will probably find more than one gripe, but the "what the fuck is dubstep anyway?" kids could be in for a big surprise. As the popularity of the genre has grown over the past years, as has the deviation from its root center. Rusko, rising in popularity with the genre, looks to capitalize on the new blood and unbroken land - leading his followers into uncharted territories for the genre, perhaps redefining the genre altogether through sheer popularity. The LP, at nearly an hour, is a schizo-roller coaster - going hyper-active before smashing the brakes, then clubby, then ravey, then wobbly again. Not to mention the collaborations on the album, which are ludicrous - Gucci Mane, Rod Azlan, Amber Coffman of the Dirty Projectors (really!?), among others - only aid to make the LP feel less like an album and more like a teenager's iTunes playlist of all his favorite club tracks. For certain however, it never stops being a hell of time - and that's important for a genre of music that's been plagued by stigmas of inaccessibility since it's rise onto the mainstream scene. The fuck-all feeling of the record lives up to its ridiculous title and manages to convince a dubstep skeptic (that's me!) that you can actually dance to dubstep!

Check the video below to get a taste of the album's purest dub track Woo Boost - a viciously potent, wall-of-bass wobbler that sounds akin to having your ears chewed off on the dance floor (awesome)! The album O.M.G.! is out now on Mad Decent records, come pick one up at the show this Friday night at the Showbox at the Market! Seattle Peach will see you there!

Neon Indian reissue and upcoming show at the Showbox!

2010-09-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

With the curtain closing on 2010, 'chillwave' is well on its way to becoming a full-fledged genre - characterized by heavy use of effects processing, synthesizers, looping, sampling, and heavily filtered vocals with simple melodic lines. While no one can necessarily agree where or when chillwave began to define itself, it's clear that Neon Indian (Official | MySpace), with their debut album Psychic Chasms, have propelled the seemingly new genre to new heights, carving an opening for it in our already overly-fragmented sphere of genres. And they're doing a damn good job at it.

Since its official stateside debut on Lefse Records, Neon Indian and Psychic Chasms has attracted a sizeable amount of attention - rocking the blogosphere in 2009, packing all of the major festivals, and seeing the re-release of their debut in Europe on Static Tongue. Alan Palomo, sole producer and composer for Neon Indian, is no stranger to the scene - his previous projects Ghosthustler and VEGA were met with similar praise from fans and critics alike. But, digging deeper into Palomo's background yields, perhaps, the most relevant influence to Neon Indian - his father, a moderately successful Mexican pop musician in the 70's and 80's. If we place Alan Palomo in this setting, growing up in the 80's as the son of a pop star, his sound begins to make a lot more sense. It sounds like Palomo is trying, like everyone else, to remember the 80's - to fondly peel back the layers of memories in an attempt to recreate a feeling that was only possible in an era filled with hair spray and cigarette smoke.

It's not surprising that the Neon Indian project began with the album's seventh track, "I Should Have Taken Acid With You", birthed from a missed acid date with Palomo's girlfriend. The content that ensues is a barrage of altered states, mixed emotions, and personal perceptions, resulting in a sound that is distant, washed out, and unclear; remembered and re-remembered a thousand times. It's urgently blissful - hisses and cackles stack on oscillating mountains of synth, with a dreamy, vaguely reminiscent, lo-fi vocal track recalling dithering memories, subtle emotions, and a not-quite-lucid conscious mind. It comes off as feeling analog and homemade - like being recorded and re-recorded onto the same cassette tape - organically moving the album from start to finish and begging you to fall in love all at the same time. Psychic Chasms spares no wasted seconds and pleases thoroughly, on one hand carrying you to a magnificently brilliant dreamland, and on the other hand repeatedly sinking you into a pool of ice cold water. The album's lead single "Deadbeat Summer" is a prime example - Palomo's lo-fi, barely-there vocals are juxtapozed over a characteristly bright sound with lyrical material skirting the line between discontent and complacency. When it's all said an done, it's 31 minutes of delicate, fresh talent that will leave you pleading for a repeat.

The re-release, Mind Ctrl: Psychic Chasms Possessed, includes an absolutely fantastic remix album with the likes of fellow chillwavers Toro y Moi, as well as some other heavy hitters including YACHT, The Antlers, Bibio, and Dntel - not to mention the little-known but outrageously fun French electro band Anoraak. For good measure they throw in the band's new single, "Sleep Paralysist." And if all of that wasn't enough to pique your interest, Neon Indian is going to be rocking it hard this Monday at the Showbox (with Seattle Peach in tow!), and, if their Sasquatch set was any indicator, it promises to be vicious and delicious! Not something that should be missed! We hope to see you there!

In the meanwhile, enjoy this video for the band's new single!

Nina's Friday Night Playlist

2010-09-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't listened to the new Aloe Blacc, Bilal and Black Milk, please do yourself a favor. I can't get enough of Aloe Blacc, so I included a dope remix of "I Need A Dollar". Bilal's album blows my mind--check it out. While on iTunes, get yourself some Black Milk. It's easily one of my top five albums of the year. The new Khingz mixtape--what can I say? I like how he represents. Dwele is sounding great, but the same. Still, it's good to have this album, you will enjoy it. Good old Skyzoo, the new stuff does not disappoint. I cant wait to see him live. And for dessert, a bit more of that Detroit sound, oh how I love thee...Enjoy!

✓ Santiago's Revenge Fashawn DJ Skee Presents Grizzly City Volume 3
✓ Speakers On Blast Skyzoo & Illmind Revolution Riot Report Mixtape Vol. 5
✓ Bring 2  Bilal The Return Of Mr. Wonderful
✓ Oh Girl  Black Milk Album of The Year
✓ Miss Fortune  Aloe Blacc Good Things
✓ Who Are You Bilal Airtights Revenge
✓ I Need A Dollar Aloe Blacc - (The Killabits Remix)
✓ I Wanna (feat. DJ Quik)  Dwele W.Ants W.Orld W.Omen (W.W.W.)
✓ Khingz Is Bacc  Khingz Pho99
✓ Time (Produced By Black Bethoven)   Dub MD x Nametag x Black Bethoven Presents The Soul System EP

Get Glam! Make Up Tips From Seattle Peach

2010-09-20T16:28:00.000-07:00

Every month Seattle Peach walks down Pine to 3rd to pick up my monthly supply of hair dye from Sally Beauty Supply. Every freaking time, without fail, Sephora just sucks me right in like an undertow. Try as I might, I cannot resist the temptation of Sephora's shiny, pretty things.

The week before my birthday was no different, a stack birthday money burning a hole in my pocket to boot. I have become fluent in creating make up looks through performing with Lisa Dank--I have been responsible for coming up with the make up for the White Widows for a few months now, and our goal as performers is always to be innovative, colorful, and creative. This has given Seattle Peach a strong foothold in the world of beauty products--what works, what doesn't, and what products rise above the rest. I decided to create a new column, "Get Glam," to share this knowledge with my readers.

Seattle Peach had a really fun (and delicious!) photoshoot for my birthday invitations with staff photographer, Jon Madrigal. I wanted a look that was feminine, festive and princessey. As I moved into my "late-20s," I wanted an aesthetic that was childlike and whimsical, a throwback to my youth as a sprightly and rambunctious young girl.

Here are some key products I used for this look:

Sephora Collection Smoothing Primer $15 for .05oz

I got this as a sample, and I am sold. I have never used a foundation primer before, but have heard great things, particularly about the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer. I am interested in testing the Photo Finish, but Sephora's version is great alternative for the more budget-conscious shopper. It feels amazing as it's applied, instantly transforming your skin into a smooth as silk palette. Those with already smooth skin may not find it necessary for everyday use, but it is quite luxurious and has become a fast favorite in Seattle Peach's make up kit.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream No. 18 Purple $22

This color makes me wanna puke rainbows--it reminds me of unicorn tails and fairy wings and the glints of glitter. Lilac is so soft and feminine, but purple is also a power color. Make Up For Ever is amazing when it comes to high pigmentation, which is important for things like photography and performance, and also comes in hand after dancing all night in a sweaty packed out venue. This line is a Seattle Peach favorite, the one and only downside being that it's so damn expensive, which is why I reserve it for bright, standout colors.

Make Up For Ever Star Powder No.951 Iridescent Fuschia $19

Speaking of high pigmentation and standout colors, this super bright loose powder has been a Seattle Peach staple for two years now (and I still got TONS left). Just as important as a good red, a bright, knockout pink is a surefire way to make a statement. Technically too highly pigmented to be called eye shadow, I use it to make lip color by either painting it on top of lipstick or chapstick and finishing with a gloss.

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip Gloss No.13 Miami Pink Reflex $14

Seattle Peach is more or less impressed with the Sephora Collection. It is reasonably economical and contains a number of acceptable replacements for more expensive designer products. This lipgloss is a perfect example of such a replacement. I fell in love with this $28 Dior lipgloss when I was in Argentina last winter, and when I saw this gloss from Sephora, I couldn't believe how close the colors were. I snagged some and not only is the color a dead match, but I am in love with the consistency. Perfect for pretty pink lips. BOW!

Nina's Friday Night Playlist

2010-09-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

Few fresh things, some favs from last year and a few new discoveries. This is what I have been listening to.

✓ I Need A Dollar Aloe Blacc Good Things
✓ Flying Bilal Airtights Revenge
✓ Bad.day Young Montana? Everything in Between
✓ Daykeeper (feat. muhsinah) The Foreign Exchange Leave It All Behind
✓ The Bike Song (Feat. Kyle Falconer and Spank Rock) Mark Ronson & The Business Intl The Bike Song
✓ Gloria (Zodiac Lovers) Adrian Younge Black Dynamite
✓ Fire Prof and St. Paul Slim Recession Music
✓ Lights RAtheMC Heart of a Champion
✓ Blazay Blah K. Sparks The Trilogy Chapter 2: The Demonstration
✓ Fresh Rhymes Daily Common Something In Common

A Few Righteous Downloads Fer Ya

2010-09-16T13:22:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach has got some free downloads for ya to get through the end of the week. Lisa Dank and I were rocking out to the new Das Racist mixtape at band meeting the other night. It's got tracks produced by Diplo (one of Seattle Peach's absolute fav producers) AND Seattle's own Sabzi of Blue Scholars fame. Das Racist torn the roof down at a Members Only after party not so long ago, and will bring that same sweaty, claustrophobic vibe when they play Comet on October 1.

I've never heard of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, but their reenvisioning of Aretha Franklin's "Save Me" is a freaking banger. I know it's making it into my Friday night pre-funk mix. Also, this underground art pop chick called Madison just dropped a free single off her upcoming self-released EP that's totally party-ready. Seattle Peach is ready to go--we'll be poppin bottles and dancin all night long. It all starts with P Smoov's birthday party tomorrow night. Let's get it in!

Scissor Sisters 9/15 @ Showbox SoDo!

2010-09-13T13:44:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach is super duper excited for tomorrow night at Showbox SoDo, marking my most anticipated show of summer. Scissor Sisters (MS | W | fm), a NYC-based disco glam-pop group, promise to blow SoDo a new crater with their unique club/disco/classic rock pastiche magic! Their third and most recent LP, Night Work, is a glitzy, sexual club-thumper of epic proportions; a nonstop barrage of flagrantly exhilarating pop anthems. Jake Shears' and Ana Matronic's vocals wax heavy nostalgia for 70s/80s disco and arena rock classics. Match that up to lyrical content exploring sexual positions, S&M, and free-spirited eroticism, plus a touch of modern bump, and we've got a panty dropper for sure - or, a brief dropper if you catch the beautiful Mr. Shears' drift.

Unlike their previous two albums, Night Work lives up to band's straightforwardly homoerotic band name and delivers a brazenly GAY album. Inspired by specific events Mr. Shears experienced at a Berlin night club, the sound is self-described as the definition of the gay NYC club scene. In the end, it lives up to the free-spirit nostalgia it recalls; the sound is precisely what disco would have been, should it have happened in 2010 in a country that's finally overcoming its homophobic tendencies. In a way, it's a "coming out of the closet" album for the Scissor Sisters, whose first two albums were far more subtle in the way of sexual tendency.

In case you didn't know, that equals super awesome dance party! Come and find me!!

Glamazon 5000: Last Fringe Ever and SHADE Vogue Benefit Ball

2010-09-13T00:22:00.000-07:00

Oh man this week just keeps getting better and better. Seattle Peach remembers being a small town girl and having a hard time coming up with something, ANYTHING to keep her entertained at least one night a week. Since this country peach moved to the city, it is just non-stop, back-to-back parties everyday of the week, I swear!!

Seattle Peach will be capping the week's events off with a couple of events hosted by some of the cities most fabulous and talented gays. First, the town's most nutso crazy, tranny down dance party is holding it's final showdown of glitter and glam. That's right, folks. Fringe will soon be no more. So you best be tearing through your closets for your most outrageous of outerwear (and underwear) and combing out your biggest wig, because it's time to get busted at the last Fringe EVER at the Eagle Friday night.

It's a good thing this peach has got a Saturday off from work, cuz you know I'ma need it after Fringe. And we're just gonna keep this party train rollin straight through Saturday night. I'm gonna peel off one melted mess of glitter, lashes, and jewels only to slip into another, this one less costumey and more fashion. artStar, House of Charlatan, and Still Drunk Paul are hosting SHADE, a Vogue Ball to benefit the Lifelong AIDS Alliance. There will be a runway show featuring artStar's fantastic futuristic fashions AND a portion with an all inclusive walk off featuring anyone in attendance who thinks they got what it takes to WERK!!

House of Charlatan will provide voguing inspiration with a very special performance and DJs Colby B, Jerri Blank, and Trouble Dicso will hold down the dance party and keep your booty grooving. Cap that off with champagne specials and you've got yourself an event that is absolutely not to be missed.

Here is the fine print from the flier containing the full details:

Oh...and tell dat nasty girl from around the way she betta show up, cos we are serving up sum SHADE!

Saturday September 18, 2010
Doors at 8pm, Show at 9:30 SHARP
Dresscode: 'Who You Is?' Dress like that!
You betta LET THESE BITCHES HAVE IT!

Re-Bar
1114 Howell Street
Tickets: 21+ and $20adv/$25/at doors

Available at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124493

Cafe Society Presents Connor Desai

2010-09-12T15:56:00.000-07:00

The ladies of Cafe Society are back atchya this Thursday (Sept 16) with a high-class evening hosted at Capitol Club. Showcasing the talents of jazz/funk/Americana songstress Connor Desai and a trunk show of uniquely handcrafted, sterling silver and gold-filled pieces from Caitlin Scott Jewelry, Cafe Society consistently delivers with elegant and exceptional events. To see some examples of that bling-bling, check out Caitlin Scott Jewelry's R.A.W. album on Facebook.

The girls at Cafe Society sent Seattle Peach a questionnaire they put together for each of their featured artists. Below, Conner Desai talks about the creative process, the music industry, and being female in the business.

When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in music?

There wasn't really a moment, per se. I grew up in a very musical family, and it was always a part of my life. I wrote my first song at 15, and have been writing ever since. I guess somewhere along the way I became an adult, and the hobby became a career.

How would you describe your personal style? Does that play into how you create your music/stage persona?

Laid back and comfortable. Although I don't consider myself as being one of those musicians who employs a stage persona, you could say that those two adjectives are good descriptors of my live performances. I am mesmerized by artists who really dramatize their presence on stage. I don't think my music really lends itself to those sorts of theatrics, but it's just incredible how some people reinvent themselves on stage.

How would you describe your music?

Oh no! The dreaded "what type of music do you play?" question. It's really a mash up of several genres, starting with a foundation in jazz chord structure, with a healthy dose of folk and singer-songwriter sensibilities. And since that tells you virtually nothing about how the music actually sounds - it has been compared to that of Feist and Norah Jones, and has most succinctly been dubbed "deeply melodic indie-pop."

What is your favorite part of the creative process?

It's all good - from the time I sketch out an idea on my iPhone (I pity the confused soul who happens upon my voice memos) to deciding which font to use for the CD booklet lyrics. But I would have to say the most enjoyable and least frustrating creative element of my songwriting is the embellishing that's done after a song is written. I liken it to getting to decorate a house after it is built (written). The building process can be hard - proportions have to be just right and any changes usually represent a lot more work. The decorating can be more experimental and less stressful - choosing a complimentary piano line, for example, is like choosing a paint color for a room. Sometimes you try it out and it's just not right, but you don't have to knock down any walls to change it.

What do you do to prepare to get on stage, is there a particular ritual you go through?

I light 21 candles in a circle, don a feather boa, and practice vocal acrobatics in the middle of them. Just kidding! I usually just go through my set list, and try to dissipate any nerves by getting a little life perspective. I am simply here to entertain.

What is the biggest challenge you've experienced as a woman in the music business?

I wouldn't really say I've experienced more challenges as a woman than a man in the music business, but I will say it's been difficult to juggle family life, particularly raising my 3 young kids, with a music career. I can't really take off and tour the country - I can't even book a gig in my own town without first considering if I can get a sitter. Luckily, I have an extremely supportive husband who puts up with everything from bi-weekly band practices to long weekends away recording. My former bandmates were constantly laughing at my song sketches in Garageband, which I would send them so they could write their parts before practice. Invariably there would be some kid talking or screaming in the background - or my personal favorite - the constant repetition of "Mommy!" I used to need complete serenity to compose, but I've learned if you want to keep the music going, you just have work within the chaos.

What is the best advice you can give to a girl/woman who wants to get into the music business?

Make the best possible recording you can of yourself/your band, and be relentless in how you get it out there. Pursue all avenues (venues, radio, labels, licensing) and - I know it's cliche - but never give up. Be forewarned, you will hear lots of "no's" (or more likely, not hear back at all). Get a think skin and keep going, the "yesses" are out there.

What are some ways you practice self-care?

Nothing too drastic - I eat well and get exercise. I try to get enough sleep but I know I should get more. Most weeks my husband and I will get a babysitter one night, and we usually walk from our house to downtown Seattle, Ballard or Fremont to go to dinner. It's such a nice leisurely pace - to look at the city where we live in that way, and it's great to get a regular break from mothering. I always come back refreshed.

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2010-09-12T14:57:00.000-07:00

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LICK! ft. MEN

2010-09-11T15:18:00.001-07:00

MEN, featuring JD Samson of Le Tigre, ripped up a sold out venue chock-full of dykes, trannies, and fags for this month's rendition of LICK! - Chop Suey's monthly LGBT show/dance party! DJ Mathematix and General Meow kept the sweat dripping around an incredible set by MEN, a Brooklyn-based disco-house group featuring dual guitars and irresistibly delicious synth tracks. Teaming up with JD is Ginger Brooks Takahashi (LTTR) and Michael O'Neill (Ladybug Transistor). It's one part disco, one part rock, and one part noise - followed up by our lovely lead singer's punchy punk vocals. File under: Impossible NOT to dance to.

Hard Times was also there celebrating the release of their new zine (print, oh yes)! It's a super fun read! Find it at all the places you would expect to :-)

OFF OUR BACKS by MEN

MEN

JD Samson

DJ Mathematix

Lisa Dank and the Hard Times homies

rawr

FIELD TRIP!! Music Fest NW

2010-09-10T18:42:00.000-07:00

Willamette Week's massive and notorious indoor music festival, MusicFe st NW, has been going strong since Wednesday, but Seattle Peach is blasting down South for one night only to see three of my favorite Seattle bands play one bill at Jimmy Mak's. THEESatisfaction will kick off my idea of a truly spectacular evening at 9PM, and Champagne Champagne and Shabazz Palaces will close the night out. I was pretty surprised to hear the news about Shabazz signing with Sub Pop Records, and it made me wonder what this will mean for the other independent hip hop labels in town. It definitely means one thing though: Seattle's hip hop community is gaining ever stronger ground with fans who aren't necessarily "hip hop heads." After seeing Shabazz play festivals a few times over the summer, Seattle Peach is looking forward to seeing what they can do at an indoor venue again.

See ya in PDX!!

Photo by Blush

of Montreal - False Priest

2010-09-08T15:17:00.000-07:00

False Priest marks the tenth long play from our favorite Elephant 6 band (that's still around)! Kevin Barnes is back with all of his psych-pop mastery in tow, borrowing the funk he built in Skeletal Lamping and tossing it over 60s-inspired soul and R&B rhythms. This time around, Barnes ditches the synthesizers and drum machines in lieu of live drums, pianos, and strings, enlisting the talent of beloved (what doesn't he do?) producer, Jon Brion. Also joining him for False Priest are the up and coming Janelle Monáe and Solange Knowles (yes, Beyonce's sister), lending their talent for "Our Rioutous Defects" and "Sex Karma," respectively.

Compositionally, the album is at least as scattered and schizophrenic as Skeletal Lamping - but admittedly so, and with an element of continuity to draw the hooks together. Barnes has always been a sonic scientist. Since forming the band in the late 90's, Barnes has treated of Montreal as a platform for experimentation. He spares no restraint in his tenth attempt to transport his listener into an entirely handcrafted environment - a strange landscape of passion and lament, where sex is ambiguous and all of your shame is on parade. False Priest is more about textures and themes within characters in stories - rather than the berating internal monologue we had with Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer? or the disjointed hyper-sexual antics we had with Skeletal Lamping. With this album, Barnes introduces ideas just as quickly as he lets them go, channeling his multiple personalities and their frenzied emotions to bring a broader definition of the point he's making about the demons and gods ("priests") in everyone.

Ultimately, it's another home run for of Montreal. Barnes' lyrical styling is a journey through a world of desperation, confusion, and manic swings, thrown on top of the classic glistening, blisteringly bright sound of Montreal has developed over the decade. The contrast here is off-putting - even one of the most single-worthy pop anthems on the album, "Godly Intersex," is filled with imagery of drugs, suicide, and divorce. This only aides to absorb the listener further into Barnes' world, allowing a sort of participation in the chaos. Barnes opts for gritty realism over pleas for pity, but isn't afraid to sugar coat the fuck out of it and throw it in your face. Those who were disenchanted by the scattered sciz-pop shenanigans of Skeletal Lamping will find some solace on the slightly more focused concepts Barnes is exploring, but don't run in expecting a smooth ride. What else should you expect from a band who's last two albums chronicled Barnes' transformation into his alter-ego character, Georgie Fruit - a transgender African-American ex-funk band member? False Priest will drag you around and throw you against some walls, but who wouldn't enjoy Kevin Barnes doing that to them?

False Priest lands on Polyvinyl Records September 14th! of Montreal and Janelle Monáe will be playing the Paramount on October 27th. It's a show you shouldn't miss!

Nina's Friday Night Playlist

2010-09-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

These are just my personal choices, but don't be afraid to check out all of these albums, and pick your own!

✓ Hello, Good Evening Marky Journey to Markyland, USA: Rest Stop

✓ Um Um (feat. Keys) Slum Village Villa Manifesto
✓ How I Got Over The Roots Feat. Dice Raw How I Got Over (Explicit)
✓ Extrahelladope [wd4d & dead noise rmx] SOTA ft. Helladope & Jarv Dee Extrahelladope SINGLE
✓ Since Blu(e). HerFavoriteColo(u)r.
✓ Single Now Hezekiah I Predict A Riot
✓ A song for that Oddisee Oddisee101

✓ Sorry To Interrupt Theophilus London I Want You
✓ Weed Smoker Music Starlito Renaissance Gangster
✓ Who dat ???? Vitamin D ft. The Note "Bornday" E.P.
✓ Looking Up (feat. Bilal) Hezekiah I Predict A Riot
✓ All I Know Nickelus F Commercials Mixtape
✓ Come With Me (welcome to planet america) OCnotes Doo Doo
✓ Coronas On Madrona The Physics Three Piece
✓ Cookies Lisa Dank
✓ What you do to me Blakroc Blakroc
✓ Pony Boy Khingz From Slaveships To Spaceships
✓ Something Big K.R.I.T. K.R.I.T. Wuz Here
✓ Three Words J.Pinder Code Red ep
✓ The Feeling f/ Buckshot & GZA Tabi Bonney Mick Boogie presents A Place Called Stardom

Seattle Peach Picks for Bumbershoot

2010-09-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

This fall Seattle Peach is welcoming two new contributors to the ranks. OG Peach Nina Blagojevic will be using her impeccable taste in hip hop to compile weekly playlists with links to download and Jon Madrigal, photographer extraordinaire, will be snapping the snaps and offering up some album reviews and live reviews from time to time. The three of us got together yesterday to choose our top picks for Bumbershoot this year, which appear below. Click the image to view it larger, and don't forget to come see your girl BK Sparkle bedazzlin the crowd at the EMP Skychurch at 6:15PM Monday with Lisa Dank. Sparkle sparkle, bitches!!

Chromeo Kills It Dead

2010-08-16T17:33:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach simply does not know what to say about Chromeo. From the moment the funky fresh twosome hit the stage at Showbox Market last Thursday, till the last note of their second encore, there was not a single moment of anything less than brilliance. These guys are so dialed in and on point. It's amazing to think that this full sound, these tight licks, are coming from a couple of dudes on stage, working their magic on a sprawling landscape of musical materials. It sounds so much more polished then that. And the energy! It's intoxicating! Dave 1 is quite the charmer and P-Thugg's vocoder is straight making bitches wild. The crowd was thick with rowdy fans, determined to have the time of their life, and Chromeo did not disappoint. Not for one single second.

Scroll for the snaps by the homie, Jon Madrigal.

SOTA drops video for "Extrahelladope"

2010-08-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

Featuring Helladope & Jarv Dee. Directed by Stephan Gray.

SOTA - "Extrahelladope" (Official Music Video) from Stephan Gray on Vimeo.

Let Me See That Fancy Footwork

2010-08-10T13:43:00.001-07:00

Chromeo is a-comin to town!

It's been about a million years since the Canadian electrofunk duo put out a new album. The release of their flawless sophomore record, Fancy Footwork, is three years behind them. With Business Casual, Chromeo's third and most anticipated full length, dropping just a few weeks from now, this Thursday night's show at Showbox at the Market promises to be the Seattle debut of a mess of new foot stomping cuts for your disco dancin pleasure. If you're anything like Seattle Peach, who has been borderline obsessed with Chromeo since the She's In Control days, you'll be out in force, looking fierce and gettin your toes tickled into twinklin with their funky fresh jams.

Chromeo "Night By Night" Video from GreenLabelSound on Vimeo.

Life On Party Mountain: Best Dressed Couple of Block Party Weekend

2010-07-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

This is Megan and Cameron. They are sorta matching and it looks totally hot. Plus they're wearing purple. Major bonus there.

Life On Party Mountain: Cafe Society & Mad Rad

2010-07-27T14:01:00.000-07:00

The Cafe Society event at Throwbacks NW on Sunday was exactly what Seattle Peach needed on the third morning of Block Party. It was hella chill, and nothing beats sippin on mimosas with a bunch of smart ladies. The gear was fly--Sarah Walcyzk's accessory line, Rich (which is really just a selection of pieces from her massive personal collection), is hittin hard and Officials Vintage buyer, Rio Estolas, has an amazing eye for street wear from the 80s and 90s.

THEESatisfaction played a really intimate short set at Bluebird Homemade Ice Cream & Tea Room. The girls were in high spirits, and it's easy to see why--the two lovebirds gave two critically raved about performances at the Block Party over the weekend. Seattle Peach snagged some video footage of THEESat performing new jam, "Do You Have The Time," for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

After THEESatisfaction's set at Cafe Society, Seattle Peach motored back over to Block Party to see Mad Rad rock the mainstage. It is quite surreal to see thousands of kids going ape shit for your friends' band. The set was killer, full of tons of new tracks and time-tested favorites. The boys beefed the stage out with a host of live musicians from other Seattle bands who are making waves in their own right (Head Like A Kite, Mt. Saint Helens Vietnam Band), and Mad Rad proved that they can find a balance between being wild banshee party monsters and staying out of actual trouble. Mad Rad WAS superdope.

Seattle Peach got locked out of the festival trying to participate in the "I Love My Friends" finale (Mad Rad has a few more than 25 friends), and that was about all this little peach could handle of Block Party this year. With Bumbershoot just around the corner, there is much to be done. Until then...keep it peachy.

Life On Party Mountain: Members Only One Year Anniversary

2010-07-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

The Members Only One Year Anniversary Party was BANANAS!! Seattle Peach had blast getting baked (in the sun and otherwise) on the HG Lodge rooftop with all of the amazing people who came through. The party was non stop!

LIVE MUSIC ALL DAMN DAY

Victor Shade

Spaceman

SinseerMindofi

Luck OneDJs Radjaw & SwervewonKatie Kate Cloud Nice Hi-Life Soundsystem

Q-Dot Dark Time SunshineP Smoov Performing With SOTA

ALL THE HOMIES

WD4D & Dalisha
SarahMar & 100ProofShorthandSteve Greenlake
Parker JoeDalisha & MeganKevin & Big RobCassandra & POMZCrispy & NekoSwerve & BrynnJoNinaJamieOnry Ozzborn & Thomas GrayTotal Maximum PeachnessDanPOMZJermWillNicole & JanaDalishaPheedOwlJayAlly, Teada & BagzLisa Dank & White Widow Hilary Paris
AND CAKE!!!
Here's to another year of dope records and incredible parties!
Happy Anniversary, Members Only!!!

Life On Party Mountain: Friday at Capitol Hill Block Party

2010-07-26T16:06:00.000-07:00

With nothing better to do at 4PM on a Friday afternoon, Seattle Peach wandered over to the fourteenth annual Capitol Hill Block Party, held in the exact location where Seattle holds my heart--Pike Street between Broadway and 12th.

Kids were running and screaming to get to the mainstage to see the show. Big Rob of Members Only even said he heard a guy screaming at his girlfriend that there was just no time to use the bathroom because "Macklemore goes on in 20 minutes!" The floor was packed out right from the start and filled in even more over the course of the set, spilling into the canals of Pike Street.

Macklemore is a strong, heartfelt MC, there's no doubt about that. He moves so fluidly across the stage and fills the entire space--even though he is just one guy bobbing about on stage. He is relaxed and confidant and has grown into himself so comfortably. He simply owned that crowd, with people losing their shit when he came out with his back up dancers as Raven Bowie for party banger, "And We Danced." It's easy to see why of all the artists making waves in local hip hop right now, Macklemore is one of the few who were slated for the mainstage slot--he is truly an entertainer at heart and puts on a hell of a show.

(Photo of Macklemore by Lori Paulson from the Stranger Flickr Pool)

Shabazz Palaces only further solidified my feeling that they are best experienced in dark cavernous venues. Their stage show is so cerebral and shadowy, opting for stoic masculinity over aggressive machismo. The performance begs for intimacy and in the glaring rays of sunlight, a great deal of the mysticism is lost.

From my position near the Neumos entrance in the beer garden my visibility was bad (damn was it bright!) and there were some basic sound issues (the music from Nuemos was bleeding into the mainstage sound). Ish sounded really tinny and high pitched for some reason, which threw me off especially because I couldn't see very well. Block Party is the third time Seattle Peach has seen Shabazz and I really appreciate that they switch up their live sets quite a bit, revamping songs and totally rearranging set lists. That first Neumos set was still my favorite performance, though.

(Photo of Shabazz Palaces by Josh Bis from the Stranger Flickr Pool)

Champagne Champagne gave one the best shows I have ever EVER seen them play. Seasoned stage veterens, the Champagne gang have settled solidly into their rhythm as a team. They've trimmed the fat, and collectively stepped up their game. Seattle Peach is totally obsessed with the pro-black super group created by Champagne and THEESatisfaction. "Bird Lives!" and "Magnetic Blackness" are two of my absolute favorite songs by ANY Seattle artist EVER, and the Block Party execution of these two jams (which can be purchased in 7" vinyl form on the Members Only website) was nothing short of exceptional.

(Photo of Champagne Champagne by Blush Photo)

Seeing as it was 10PM and I had been drinking in the sunshine for most of the day by the time J. Moore's hip-hop showcase hit the stage, we'll call what Seattle Peach can remember of the "Fantastic Four" set...impressions.

J. Pinder carries such a romantic aura about him, I have a hard time not getting swept up in his stage presence. It was hella distracting, though, when like 2/3 of the peeps in Neumos bounced at the end of Pinder's set to see MGMT play outside. Candidt crushed the stage game, with well rehearsed basic blocking that comes off as just that much more professional and really draws the audience in. The Stay Hi Bros were just having a blast up on stage, clowning around and setting a really light hearted vibe. The Physics are delicious, and they always sound so crisp and polished live, but this Peach was sleepy, and knew she had to go hard again the next day (and the day after that), so we called it a night. <3

Members Only One-Year Anniversary Line Up

2010-07-23T00:14:00.000-07:00

Members Only is throwing a little shindig at HG Lodge on Saturday during Block Party to celebrate their one-year anniversary of throwing parties, putting out records, and making their mark in Seattle hip hop. They've had a helluva first year and the full day of patio party time they have planned for this weekend is hittin from beginning to end. Members Only hipped Seattle Peach to the all star line up they have in store, and I gotta say--it is pretty fucking outstanding. I've seen who the special guests are and this line up is packed out. Here it is:

Block 1 3pm

DJ Shorthand 3-3:25

Canary Sing - 3:25-3:40

Special Guest - 3:45-4:00

Special Guest - 4:05-4:20

Block 2 4:20

DJ Swervewon 4:25-4:50

Special Guest - 4:50-5:05

Luck One - 5:10-5:25

Cloud Nice - 5:30-5:45

Block 3 5:45

DJ Radjaw 5:50-6:15

Katie Kate - 6:15-6:30

OC Notes - 6:35-6:50

Hi Life Soundsystem - 6:55-7:10

Block 4 7:10

DJ Clint Westwood 7:10-7:35

Q Dot - 7:40-7:55

Dark Time Sunshine- 8:00-8:15

XP - 8:15-8:30

Block 5 8:30

DJ Sosa 8:30-8:55

Dyme Def- 8:55-9:10

Sol- 9:15-9:30

Special Guest- 9:35-9:50

Hell ya! Block Party weekend is bout to CRACK! Seattle Peach will see you kiddies tomorrow at the mainstage at 4PM where Macklemore will kick off the festival. Yah!

Jennifer Petersen For Seattle Peach

2010-07-21T15:57:00.000-07:00

Happy Hour Thank Yous from Seattle Peach

2010-07-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Peach Happy Hour at Homegrown last Friday was awesome! Thank you so much to all of you who came--and major thanks to Big Rob of Homegrown and Members Only Records for hookin a peach up with a sweet spot to throw a little shindig. I also have to shout a big peachy thank you to Sharlese of KEXP's Audioasis, who kicked out the jams while we sipped free beer from Mama Peach and Seattle Peach champagne cocktails, munched on peachy Homegrown sammies, and caught up with friends. Also, big ups to Jeff Lawrence, aka DJ 100Proof for designing the poster and lending a hand on the sound front. Jennifer Petersen of Sport'N Life Records gets big hugs and kisses for leading a great discussion on women in hip hop and for just being her amazing peachy self.

The first year of Seattle Peach has been absolutely amazing. I have had the pleasure of working with some of the most talented musicians, designers, stylists, photographers, make up artists, hair stylists, videographers and graphic designers that this town has to offer. Seattle Peach is eternally grateful for all who have volunteered their time and talents to this project. The happy hour event was more than I could have hoped for. Below you will find a gorgeous set of photos taken but the magnificent Miss Janae Jones. As always, keep it peachy!

Making Peaches With Peaches

2010-07-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

For the Seattle Peach banner and poster photoshoot, I made paper mache peaches as props with the help of some of the OG Peaches (Jo Garst, Jamie Klein, Dalisha Phillips, and Nina Blagojevic). We had such a great time, and man was it more work than I thought it would be. We started by buying beach balls and balloons in a variety of sizes, covered them in paper mache with a few sculpted details, painted them peach with a blast of red spray paint to create that true peach coloring, and finally attached stems made out of painted cardstock cut outs. The entire process, which included dry time, took about a week and a half to complete. Here is some shots of our time together making the peaches with peaches.

A New Look For Seattle Peach

2010-07-18T14:51:00.001-07:00

You might have noticed that things have changed a little bit around here at Seattle Peach. We got a sweet new logo thanks to the collective efforts of Zombie Crush Photography, Jamie Von Stratton, hairstylist Kurstin Stowe and OG Peaches Jo Garst, Jamie Klien, Dalisha Phillips and Nina Blagojevic (who helped make the paper mache peaches). The new logo saw it's debut at the Seattle Peach One-Year Anniversary Happy Hour at Homegrown Sandwich Shop in Fremont on Friday, which was a rollicking good time.

When I started Seattle Peach a year ago it was pretty simply an inconsequential creative outlet for me as I passed the time in Maui helping my best friend take care of her newborn baby. I called it Peach after the moniker my girl Dalisha had given to the totally amazing group of girls I had begun spending the majority of my social time with, the girls we now call the OG Peaches. A peach is strong and confident and real and her own person. A peach is sweet and kind and tactful and honest and diplomatic. Most importantly, a peach is the opposite of a skallywag--a girl who is a hater and hates on her fellow females out of insecurity or jealousy. She's a girl who loves drama and creates it in the lives of the people around her. I am not proposing that I possess all of the great qualities of a peach at all times, or that I haven't been guilty of being a skallywag a time or two in my life, but I think it's a worthy ideal to aspire toward.

The blog has grown and changed and organically taken shape over the course of the last year. Originally intended to be an outlet for me to keep up and improve my journalism chops, this initially meant attempting to remain objective in my writing. But the Seattle music scene is so small and close-knit, and as all of these amazingly talented kids I know keep finding greater and greater success, I find it increasingly difficult to separate my personal experience from my writing and analysis. Over time I have realized that this is not necessarily a bad thing, and that Seattle Peach is not a magazine or newspaper. I call the shots and I can do what I want. What Seattle Peach wants is to share my experience of the Seattle music and fashion scene with anyone interested, from my unique perspective. So I put my face on the banner of the blog, so there is no mistaking who's voice you are reading when you visit this site. It's Seattle Peach 100%, take it or leave it.

Keep it peachy!

Cop That New Sap'N EP, Yo!

2010-07-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Mitch and Regina are two of the most beautiful weirdos Seattle Peach has ever seen. Together they make Sap'N and their new EP is FIRE.

Short, sweet, and to the point, the four-track EP comes in real abrupt with "Special Services," a synthy pop number that sounds like it came out of an 80s cartoon epic, in the most delicious way. You can totally hear that P Smoov touch (he produced and mastered the record) in the way the synth parts are treated. Regina just wails, dude, with such enviable control. Her voice is a force of otherworldly magic. Deliriously hooky dance anthem "Girl's Name" thumps it's way into your brain in a way you just can't shake. The driving robotic vocals and hyperactive bleepbloops of "Record Player"sprawl into an intense Nintendo action sequence for a game that was never invented. Final track, "So Long, Long Gone" grooves long and hard, finally ending the album just as abruptly as it started. Sap'N are dance music GOLD, enveloping their unending quirkiness in a sparkly pop package.

Sap'N are opening for Brite Futures (formally known as Natalie Portman's Shaved Head) in like...3 hours at Neumos. It's $16, which I know seems like a lot of skrill in these trying economic times, but it's part of the Vera Project's A Drink For The Kids benefit, so you can feel real good about where you're money's going. Sap'N plays at 10PM, so go on! Quit reading my blog and get fed! Start getting ready! Let's GO!

Seattle Peach Happy Hour July 16!

2010-07-13T12:31:00.000-07:00

Big Ups to Jamie Von Stratton for the costume, Kurstin Stowe of Helmet Head Salon for hair, Zombie Crush Photography for the pics, OG Peaches Jo Garst, Dalisha Phillips, Jamie Klein, and Nina Blagojevic for help making the peaches and Jeff Lawrence aka DJ 100Proof for the poster.

See ya Friday!!

Happy Hour Just Got A Little Peachier

2010-07-09T16:07:00.000-07:00

Very exciting news on the Seattle Peach happy hour front! Jenn Petersen of Sport'N Life Records fame will be speaking at the event on July 16. Jenn's work with female-centric party professionals, Cafe Society, has been a big time source of inspiration to this little peach and I am thrilled that she will be tackling the topic of Women in Hip Hop at Seattle Peach Happy Hour. As someone who has been fascinated by the power dynamics of women in the music industry since I first discovered riot grrl when I was 15, I find the unique gender politics of hip hop to be a mysterious world full of complicated issues, and I can't wait to see what Jenn has to say about it.

Also confirmed is our totally amazing DJ, none other than Sharlese of KEXP's Audioasis. Seattle Peach thinks Sharlese knows what is up. We have discussed an "electro/hip hoppy/kinda girly/but also whatever" set, and obviously Sharlese knows what the hell she is doing, so Seattle Peach happy hour may very well turn into Seattle Peach happy little dance party hour at Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop on July 16 at 4PM (put that shit in your calendar!). We have some other peachy surprises up our sleeves which may or may not involve a peach colored leotard. Just sayin'.

Keep it peachy!

(Photo of Jen with Cafe Society Co-Founder, Sarah Walczyk by Abbey Simmons; Photo of Sharlese with St. Vincent by Blush Photo.)

Party With the Peaches July 16

2010-07-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach is celebrating an incredible first year in the blogosphere this summer and you are all invited! At Fremont's Homegrown Sustainable Sandwich Shop on July 16, I will be hosting a happy hour event from 4PM-7PM that will include a live DJ, specialty Seattle Peach sammiches, champagne and beer, a very peachy guest speaker, and some special surprises. This is your chance to party with the OG Peaches, rub elbows with some of my favorite peeps in the town, and get down on some snacks that promise to be super duper yumbow. Seattle Peach would be honored if you would come--it has been quite the year and I want each and every one of you to come out and join in on the celebration. More details to come.

Keep it peachy! See you July 16.

Calling All Producers/DJs!

2010-06-30T16:51:00.000-07:00

Hardfest.com is hosting remix contest for the already grimy new M.I.A. single, "Steppin' Up." Maybe you care about the prizes, such as insider VIP tickets to HARD LA / M.I.A on July 17th and a promotions deal with HARD, or maybe you don't. But there are some super duper talented producers in this town that Seattle Peach knows could just murder this contest. Good luck, kids!

Star Spangled Banger

2010-06-28T21:38:00.000-07:00

Just do this. Yahurdme.

Lotta Love for La Roux

2010-06-28T16:29:00.000-07:00

La Roux is so effin peachy, I just want to die. We've been rocking her jams at the restaurant I work at all week long. Seattle Peach is in love with "Bulletproof" and SAY WHAT?!?! I found a free download for a remix of the boppin single from Forever 21. Click here and enter the code: F21LAROUX4 It's legit, I swear.

Seattle Pride 2010

2010-06-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Let the Pride festivities commence! I know some of ya'll are already nursing your hangovers from last night's blow out, but Seattle Peach is saving her energy for tonight's party train. The two extravaganzas on my list are at the Wild Rose and at Havana, where both venues have beefed out their space for a full blown gala of gayness.

Wild Rose is hosting their annual block party style live music showcase headlined by illustrious Portland electro duo, Glass Candy. Other notable sets will be from QueerBait, Fresh Espresso, Luxury AK and Sharlese from KEXP (sharing DJ duties with DJ Tim). Seattle Peach wants to give a hat tip to the Fresh Espresso boys for bringing hip hop into the Pride celebration. Hip hop has a history of homophobia, which is something that has always bothered me. Putting an end to that trend in the 206 scene is just another way Seattle can be striving to change the hip hop game in innovative ways.

After we catch the Glass Candy set, we will bounce across the street to Havana for "Hey Tranny, It's Tranny" where we will get down hard to a drag-tastic dance party. With the homie, DJ Gameboy (and DJ Res) on the decks, live performances by Portland "Tranny Pop Sensation," CJ & the Dolls and a host of other local favorite drag queens, it's sure to be hot mess of glitter, sequins, feathers, and jewels. I just hope I can get all the glam offa me before I gotta roll out to work the next morning.

For all of you crazy kids that don't have to be at work bright and early Sunday morning, slam that mimosa and coffee quick to make it down to Westlake Park by 11AM for the Gay Pride Parade. OG Peach, Dalisha Phillips, helped with one of the floats this year through her job at Communities in Schools of Seattle, which is an awesome organization that you should peep. Do it for the kids! The parade will make its way across 4th Ave to the Seattle Center where there will be a full day of celebratory activities to take part in. Mama Peach will be dancing in a flash mob set to knock everyone's socks off at some point in the day, and the center will be packed with vendors so you can eat, drink and dance all day.

Seattle Peach will be capping the evening off with drinks with Mama Peach where we will cheers to her flash mob performance. I'm so proud of her! Then (if you're not reconvening at Havana for the Queersucker Pride Closing Party) it's off to a good night's sleep. We have to remember to pace ourselves, friends. Next weekend is 4th of July.

Glam As Gaga

2010-06-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Best You Tube tutorial find EVER!! Seattle Peach just discovered a channel called MasqueradeMakeup that has a ton of Lady Gaga make up how-to's taught by this adorable Russian chick, Aria. She nails the look perfectly (and is the spitting image of Lady Gaga by the end of it), and breaks the look down in super easy to follow steps. She even includes tutorials of how to DIY yourself the accessories you'll need to complete the look. This peach can't wait for Pride this weekend cuz mama's got a whole new bag of tricks up her sleeve.

White Widow Weekend

2010-06-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

Seattle Peach cannot WAIT for the weekend to start. I'll be a busy little bee, but it's gonna be a total blast. After the first Dankce practice (rehearsal for Lisa Dank & the White Widows) since Hilary Paris (my WW partner in grind) left for Fiji, Lisa Dank is hosting a White Widows BBQ for us to meet all of the dancers who will be joining us for our performance at Bumbershoot this year. We have a ton of new stuff up our sleeve, and a half hour longer on stage than we usually get, meaning twice the danky goodness for you and yours to wile out to. Be at the EMP Skychurch at 6PM Monday September 6 for the most outrageous Lisa Dank set to date.

After the WW shindig, Seattle Peach is blasting off for the U Districy where the homie, Tyler Soverns, aka Rabid Child, is having a photo show at Upper Playground. With the flier promising a street BBQ, a trio of superdope DJs and the forecast promising bright summer weather (fingers crossed), this peach can't think of a better way to start the weekend. Rabid Child has taken some of the best photos of some of the craziest parties I have ever witnessed (the Go! Machine snaps and the photos from the Magnetic Blackness release, both the Seattle and Bellingham sets, come to mind for starters). Titled "In The Grime Light," if you were at Rabid Child's SNAPS show at Greenwood Collective last fall, then you know that "grime" is the perfect word to sum up the debauchery in store. Plus Rabid Child's extrahelladope photos look just that much more spectacular in large scale prints. You can learn more about Rabid Child on Line Out, where Trent Mooreman has a great little Q&A.

After a good nights rest, Lisa Dank & the White Widows will be heading down to the 253 to rock at the Grit City festival in Tacoma. This will be the last time we will perform before Lisa Dank blasts off for Europe where she will be playing a handful of solo gigs for three weeks. The White Widows will miss her, and it's the last chance for you to see us perform before the end of July, so get your crew together and roll out to Tacoma on Saturday night. 6:30PM at the Swiss. Be there, suckas!

On Sunday I'll be heading over to the first wedding I've been to in like 5 years. DJ Sean Cee (who has weekly residencies at Havana and HG Lodge) will be tying the knot with Miss Abbie Martin, who does the buying for the women's section at Winner's Circle (in between working at the Showbox and the Spectator). I don't know them too well, but my man is tight homies with the little lovebirds. I'll be rocking a flowy little navy blue number with a red belt that my girl Sharlese at KEXP hooked up (Thanks Sharlese!!!). I'm going to round out the ensemble with a pair of bright red high heels straight outta Oz. I sure hope they last, cuz the reception's being held at Havana and Seattle Peach is gettin her dance on all night long. We'll be goin strong late into the night, so Monday might be a little rough, but for good times like these, it's always worth it.

Have a peachy weekend!!

Seattle Peach Picks For Summer: Sunny Mood is Fashion With Tiffany Lowry

2010-06-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Sunny Mood is Fashion is finally having another fashion show! Yip yip! Yeee!

"The sad story behind Sunny Mood," founder and creative genius, Tiffany Lowry, shares, "is that my dad died that night of the fashion show and so I've had a really hard time getting the energy again to get it together." As time has passed, Tiffany's expertise in the fashion and beauty industries is coming together once again for a showcase of the savvy stylist's local favorites. "People are always asking me," she says, "'Tiffany, where do you shop? Tiffany, what clothes do you like? Tiffany, what make up do you wear? Tiffany, what shoes do you think?' What do you think this, what do you think that, and they do it every day. And I love sharing this information so I just wanted to have just kind of a live magazine that had bits and pieces of Seattle that creates me that can help create for others."

The Sunny Mood is fashion aesthetic perfectly captures the essence of Tiffany, who is a girly girl mother of a toddler with a sleeve of tattoos and a rocker husband. She captures romanticism and femininity perfectly while maintaining a rock n roll edge. Her sense of fashion states that a woman doesn't have to choose between being soft and strong. We can have both, and look fabulous while having it.

The show isn't until September, but Tiffany Lowry is a walking, talking one-stop-shop when it comes to looking good. For some one-on-one Tiff-time, give Red X salon a call to book an appointment for a cut and color, or something a bit more daring--Tiffany can handle. For the budget conscious, Tiffany is a veteran make up artist who worked on the MTV $5 Cover series and recently wrapped filming on the Mike Harring directed sci fi flick, Pets. Tiffany loves sharing make up and beauty tips on her Sunny Mood blog, and will also be debuting an online reality make-over series within the next few months. Seattle Peach loves that Tiffany believes that everyone should feel beautiful. "I think that I'm always trying to get into places where I can help inspire and give happy feelings to people," she says. Girl is a perfect example of the time worn statement, beauty comes from within.

For a sneak peek of what might be in store this fall, scroll below for shots from a photoshoot Tiffany recently did with Sarah Rhoads photography. "I actually got the idea because I was playing with Addy, my daughter, with her Thomas the Train and her Polly Pockets," she says, "and she put one of the Polly Pockets lying down on the train tracks and the train was going to come and get her and I was like oh my god, that would be an amazing photoshoot!" Featuring clothing from the Finery, Like A Rock Star, Velouria, Frocky Jack Morgan, and accessories by Violet Magpie, the shoot is both dark and whimsical, representing magically the delicate dichotomy Sunny Mood is Fashion toys with. (Photos by Sarah Rhoads.)

Seattle Peach snagged Tiffany for a quick curbside chat on spring and summer fashion in the city. Pay attention, folks! This girls knows her ish!

What is your favorite part about spring?

My favorite part about spring is orange and purple. I mean you can wear them again happily without feeling like you're blinding people. That's my favorite part about spring. I mean recently with my garden I've been planting tons of different sorts of flowers with my daughter and I think figuring out color schemes is fun for spring. I mean color schemes, definitely. We're back in color, so it's nice.

If you could only buy one item this season, what would you buy?

If you could only buy one item this season I would buy Stila's convertible cheek and lip stain in Peony, probably because that stuff is like the one-stop wonder if you're out and you need to refresh. It's a cheek, it's a lip, you can even put a little bit on your eye and it's a blendworthy product that I think that everybody should own and have in your purse at all times. So that would probably be my one thing.

What are your predictions for the spring/summer season?

Last year I started seeing zippers and I think zippers are going to be a big deal. It's going to be a nice metal to start wearing. A little splash, like rosette zippers are really cool. And I think that that is a big deal for the season and I think little zipper headbands or pins or even cool bracelets or necklaces are really cool to accessorize with, and unexpected. 70s shoes are coming back in a nice way through clogs and through sandals and I think that's really awesome. I'm really over the gladiator style so I'm really glad there's going to be a softer twist on the 70s now instead of just total Jesus shoes. Oh, and I think that working with loose prints are amazing so really soft loose clothes that have amazing print bases on them, flowers and lines and lots of busyness to play around with in spring. I think summer's going to be a bit softer. I think summer will probably be more solid colors but I think spring is a really busy time.

Major Lazer mixtape for La Roux: Lazerproof!

2010-06-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

I'm hella finding all sorts of free shit on the internets this mornin. It's my peachy gift from me to you. Download Lazerproof!